William Bluford Merritt, Sr.

William Bluford “Billy” Merritt, Sr., age 88, of Siloam, GA passed away on Monday, October 19, 2015 at Athens Regional Medical Center.  Billy was born April 23, 1927 in Augusta, GA to the late George Lovett Merritt and Nelle Eberhardt Merritt.  Billy attended school in Siloam and  graduated from Greensboro High School in 1944 and then attended the University of Georgia.  He entered into the United States Navy where he proudly served his country during World War II and received an honorable discharge.  Following his time with the Navy, he returned home where he helped his mother and father on the family dairy farm and continued to operate the farm after their deaths.  Billy had many hobbies and really enjoyed old guns and tractors, but most of all he loved his family and spending time with friends.  He also enjoyed woodworking and bird hunting when he was younger.  Billy was a member of the American Legion, Farm Bureau, where he was president for six years and a founding member of Nathanael Greene Academy.
    
He is survived by a son, William Bluford “Chip” Merritt, Jr. of Siloam, GA; nieces, Nancy Merritt and Susan Elder, and close friend, Louise Jones of Siloam, GA.  In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy Ann Mathews Merritt in 2003 at which time they had been married fifty-seven years; and a brother, Warren George Merritt.

Memorial Services will be held Saturday, October 24, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Siloam United Methodist Church, 111 Church Street, Siloam, GA 30665 with Rev. Bert Mathews and Rev. Dr. Francis Ford officiating.  The family will receive friends on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time for the service at the church.  The family requests that any memorials be made in Billy’s memory to  the American Heart Association, P O Box 672648, Marietta, GA 30006.  McCommons Funeral Home, 109 W. Broad St., Greensboro, GA, (706) 453-2626, is in charge of arrangements. Visit us at www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register.

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